State seeks possession of suspected drug vehicle after cannabis wax found

Sanford J. Schmidt, sschmidt@thetelegraph.com

Updated
11:08 pm CST, Sunday, December 9, 2018

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State seeks possession of suspected drug vehicle after cannabis wax found

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EDWARDSVILLE — Authorities are attempting to take possession of a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche in which police found 2,200 grams of suspected cannabis wax and $4,900.

The wax is a highly potent, yet dangerous, form of marijuana, which costs between $15 and $20 per gram.

The substance was found after a suspect was making a delivery to a storage unit in Godfrey.

Charged is John B. Myers, 69, who told authorities he regularly carried marijuana from Oregon, “where it is legal,” to a Godfrey storage unit in the 400 block of Tolle Lane. At the time of his arrest, the load was 75 pounds of marijuana in duffel bags. The wax was found after police obtained a search warrant for the Avalanche.

Myers was arrested after a tipster — who admitted she owed Myers $160,000 — told authorities he grows marijuana in Oregon and hauled it to the storage unit in Godfrey, where transactions would take place.

The informant told state police she owed Myers $160,000 from past deliveries, and that the informant makes the transactions at the storage unit. She said delivery was set for Nov. 14, but cancelled because of the snow storm. The deal was rescheduled for Nov. 24 or 25.

A special agent met with the tipster, who showed agents a message confirming the delivery was to be Nov. 24. Agents received a warrant to listen in on a phone call, in which Myers allegedly agreed to deliver marijuana to the Tolle Lane address on Nov. 24.

Agents gave the informant a black bag containing $40,000 in cash, in addition to a safe. The informant also was wired with recording devices. Police conducted surveillance on the storage business.

Additional details of the case became public Friday when authorities filed a suit to take possession of the truck and the cash. The case was filed under a state law that allows authorities to take possession of assets believed used in the drug trade.